Carl W. Kenney II is an award winning columnist and novelist. He is committed to engaging readers into a meaningful discussion related to matters that impact faith and society. He grapples with pondering the impact faith has on public space while seeking to understand how public space both hinders and enhances the walk of faith.

Friday, September 8, 2017

Durham's race for mayor reflects the end of what black people say they want to achieve

What happened to the days of
black solidarity? Some will say it never existed. It’s no more than a false
narrative about the good ole days when all black folks held hands, sang songs,
marched together and fought to overcome racism.

A true reading of history
reminds us that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t embraced by the National Baptist
Convention USA, Inc. In fact, the opposition at the 1961 annual convention in
Kansas City, Mo was so intense a fist fight broke out, an elderly man died and
King, Ralph Abernathy and Gardner C. Taylor withdrew from the group to form the
Progressive National Baptist Convention.

There has never been a congruous
black voice. Not everyone stood behind Marcus Garvey when
he challenged black people to love themselves, to develop a black economic infrastructure
and to return to Africa. Not everyone
shouted “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” or replaced the attire of white corporate
America with African apparel. Not everyone embraced their natural hair, sat
during the national anthem while marching in defiance.

There is no monolithic black
voice. That has never been the case.

But, black people talk a lot about
unity. Its part of the declaration made during the celebration of Kwanzaa. Umoja
(unity) is the first principal of the week. Black people light the first red
candle placed in the kinara while conjuring the promise to strive for and
maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Kwanza is the seven day
celebration of black people overcoming. It’s a week set aside to teach lessons
about unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, collective
economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
The seven principles (Nguzo Saba) reflect the best qualities of the “first
fruit” festivals celebrated throughout Africa.

It’s a reminder of where black
people come from. It’s a call for unity and an embrace of the fruits that emerge
when black people refuse to be measured by a Eurocentric agenda. Black people
living in America applaud life in their country, but they find strength in
their collective journey. That’s where the pride flows and that is the place
that brews massive change.

So, back to the initial
question - what happened to the days of black solidarity? Or, what happened to
the promise regarding what solidarity would stimulate?

Durham, NC is a city built on
the back of black pride and solidarity. It was unity that inspired the rise of
the Black Wall Street. Unity, combined with a bunch of collective work and
responsibility, fueled the imagination of James Edward Shepard to build the
National Religious Training School at Chautauqua in 1909. We now know it as
North Carolina Central University, the first public liberal arts institution for
blacks in the nation.

What happened to the unity that
inspired growth for our children? Have blacks become so engulfed in their
individual quest in living the American dream that they have forgotten the
principles that helped them overcome?

Why are blacks in Durham
engaged in massive cannibalism while placing personal agendas above our
collective needs? Why can’t black people talk, plan, mobilize and succeed
together? Where is that black faith that grounds the black community and keeps
them moving?

Why are five black people running
for mayor against one white person? I get people being called to public office.
I understand being compelled to press what the spirit has inspired from that
place beyond human understanding. No one should be denied that right, but where
is the unity that moves black people forward –together as a people?

How did this happen?

When did the endorsement of a predominately
white political action committee become more important than the collective
agenda of the black community? When did the platform of white people, albeit progressives,
overrule the veracity of what black people aspire to be – a community in search
for unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, collective
economics, purpose, creativity while being moved by a common faith?

When did the hope for unity end?

I suppose it’s what happens
when we assume we’ve made it to the Promised Land.

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Carl W. Kenney II

Carl was named the best serious columnist of 2011 by the North Carolina Press Association for his work with the News & Observer's community paper The Durham News and in 2016 by the Missouri Press Association for his columns in the Columbia Missourian. He is a columnist with the News & Observer and Co-Executive Producer of "God of the Oppressed" an upcoming documentary film on black liberation theology. He is a former Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri - School of Journalism and Adjunct Instructor at Duke University, the Center for Documentary Studies. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He furthered his education at Duke University and attained a Master of Divinity. He was named a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership Development at the Princeton Theological Seminary on May 14, 2005. He is a freelance writer with his commentary appearing in The Washington Post, Religious News Services,The Independent Weekly and The Durham Herald-Sun. Carl is the author of two novels: “Preacha’ Man” and the sequel “Backslide”.
He has led congregations in Missouri and North Carolina